Dustguard for drag links



Nov. 13, w23. ummm "A H. B. GARMAN DUSTGUARD FOR DRAG LINKS Filed Deo.14.-.A 1921 2'sheets-sheet 1 7j /7 10 18 74- Z Abro/@mfr Patented Nov.i3, i923..

HARRY B. GARMN, OF DETROIT, MXCHIGAN, ASSIGIIOR TO THE STEEL PRODUCTSCMPANY, GF GLEVELLND, GREG, CGRPG-RATIGN 0F GEH).

HUSTCTARDy FR, DRAG: LNES.

.application tiled December le, i921. Serial lie, 5221.377.

To aZZ whom 'it may concern:

Ee it known that l, HARRY B. GARMAN, a citizen ot the United States,resident of Detroit, county of Wayne, and State of Michigan, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Dustguards for Brag Links, ofwhich the following is a specilication, the principle of the inventionbeing herein explained and the best inode in which l have contempiatedapplying that principle, so as to distinguish itvtrom other inventions.

rEhis invention relates to dust guards for drag links forming a part otthe steering mechanism of an automobile, and has for, an object toprov-ide readily detachable coverings for the slots in the end socketsthrough which the steering and axle arms pass. A further object is toprovide a covering member or dust cap which can be quickly lattached ordetached, which does not interfere with the pivotal movement of the armin the socket and which its snugly about the arm and over the socket toprevent entrance ot dust and dirt to the joint.

The annexed drawings and following description set forth in detailcertain means embodying my invention, the disclosed means, however,constituting but two oi' the various mechanical forms in which the principle ot the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. is a plan view ot one of the end. sockets showingi the improveddust cap in place thereon.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the plane indicated by line Il-H ottFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of an end socket showing the innerclip, only, in place. thereon.

Fig. i is a sectional View taken on the plane indicated by line lV-lV ofFig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of an end socket showing the dust cap inplace thereon.

Fig. G is a sectional view taken on the plane indicated by line Vl-VIoif Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation on a reduced scale showing a complete drap,link with the improved dust cap in place on both end sockets thereof.

Figs-8 and 9 are perspective views of the inner and outer sheet metalclips, respectively, which together comprise the `improved dust cap.

Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive, show a modificasame parts throughout, the draglink conl sists et a piece of tubing; l having expanded ends 2, forming`end sockets. Each socket 2 has an elongated keyhole slot 3 through whichthe ball end 4 of a connecting arm 5 is `inserted into the socket. Theball end et is journaled between bearing blocks G and 7 one of which ispositioned against a fixed seat and the other of which is yieldinglypressed against the ball end 4 by a coil spring 8. The arm 5 is held bythe bearing,l members in the restricted portion ot the keyhole slot 3the width of which is less than the diameter of the ball end fr.

To eiiectually seal the joint to prevent entrance of dust or otherforeign matter thereto, l have provided a dust cap consisting1 of aninner sheet metal ciip Si and an outer sheet metal clip 10.

The inner clip 9 consists of a strip ot' sheet metal bent intocylindrical form and adapted to tit snugly over the socket 2 throughslightly more than degrees. rifhe clip Si has a slot l1 extending fromone edge thereof circumferentially through slightly more than haiiC thecircumferential extent ot the clip.v A circular boss l2 is formed in thciid body of the inner clip 9 adjacent the inner end of the slot ll.rl`he inner end oi the slot ll terminates in a semicircular scat li cutinto the boss l2. The width of the slotA il and the diameter ofthesemicircular seat 13 correspond to the outer diameter ot the arm 5 sothat the clip Q-ca'n he sprung over the socket 2 with the scmicircularseat i3 in engagement with the arm 5 as shown in Fig. 3, The outer clipl0 consists ot a strip of sheet metal bent into cylindrical formslightly wider than the strip 9' and adapted to be sprung in place ontop of the strip 9. rlhe clip l0 has edge portions land l5 extendingbeyond the ends ot the inner clip has an enlarged circular portion 21adapted to fit over the boss 12 o the clip 9 and a semicircular seat 22corresponding to the seat 13 in the clip 9.- When'the clip -10` issprung in place on top the clip 9 the arm 10 is held in the circularopening .provided by the seats 13 and 22 in the two clips, the slot 11beyond the arm 5 is closed by the depressed portion 18 of the clip 10,and the enlarged portion 21 of the slot 20 is closed bythe boss 12 ofthe clip 9. The bosses 16 and 17 prevent relative longitudinal movementof the inner and outer clips andserve to guide the clip 10 into place asitis sprung on the clip 9. The boss 12 engaging in the enlarged portion21 of the slot 20 provides a further lock against relative longitudinalmovement and also locks the two clips against relative circumferentialmovement.

The socket. member 2 is snugly engaged throughout the extent of the dustcap and the cap as a whole is free to move longitudinally orcircumferentially on the socket during the pivotal movement of the arm5.

@In the modified form shown in Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive, the inner clip9 is exactly the same as in the form first described. The

outer clip 25, however, is vsomewhat differ.

ently constructed. The clip 25 consists of a strip of sheet metal bentinto cylindrical 'form slightly wider than the strip 9 and adapted to besprung in place on top of the strip 9. The clip 25 has edge portions 26and 27, corres onding to the edge portions 14 and 15 of tiie clip 10 inthe modification first described, extending beyond the ends of the innerclip 9 and adapted to iit snugly upon the surface of the socket 2. Theportion 27 extends only a short distance beyond the edge of the i'nnerclip 9 so that the inner edge of the guard cannot project be yond theshoulder of the socket 2 on pivotal movement of the arm 5.Circum'ferential bosses 28 and 29, corresponding to the bosses 16 and 17of the clip 10, provide internal grooves fitting over the edge portionsof the clip 9 at the side of the slot 1.1. Between the bosses 28 and 29a central depressed portion 30, corresponding to "the depressed portion18 in the clip 10, fits snugly against the surface of the cylindricalsocket within the slot 11 of the clip 9. Just at one side,circumferentially of the center thereof, the clip 25 is provided with acircular opening 31 adapted to receive the ball end 4 of the arm 5 aridto fit over the circular boss 12 on the clip 9. At the inner side of theopening 31 and extending into the depressed portion 30 of the clip is asemicircular seat 32 ,complen'iental to the seat 13 `in the clip 9 andcoacting therewith to enclose the arm 5 in the same manner as the seat22 in the n assembling the joint as indicated in Fig. 12 the ball end 4of the arm 5 is first slipped through the opening 31 in the clip 25,.theclip 9 is positioned on the arm 5 below the clip 25, the ball isinserted in the slot 3 of the socket 2 and the clip 30 is then broughtdown on top of the clip 9 and both are sprung over the cylindricalsocket 2.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a drag link having a cylindrical socket with anvelongated slot therein; of a connecting arm extending into said slotand journaled in said socket; and 'adust cap comprising an inner sheetmetal clip formed to it said cylindrical socket throughout more thanhalf the periphery thereof, and having-'a slot extendingcircumferentially more than 90 degrees, and

an outer clip having a compleinental slot therein, said outer clip beingwider than said inner clip and provided with depressed end portionsadapted to engage said socket beyond the ends of the inner clip, and acentral depressed portion adapted to' tit in the slot of said innermember, the inner ends of the slots in said clips being adapted to fitabout said connecting arm.

2. The combination with a drag link having a cylindrical socket memberwith an elongated slot therein; of a connecting arm extending into saidslot and journaled in said socket; and a dust cap comprising inner andoutersheet'metalclips having a cylindrical contour and adapted to besprung over said socket, said clips having oppositely disposed slotsadapted to receive said arm, one of said slots having an enlargedportion, and a boss on the other of said clips adapted to be received insaid enlarged portion of said slot.

Signed by me this 9th day or" November,

